Robin's Blog for Dauphin Island

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED              

ISLE DAUPHINE “SPRING CLEANUP”

SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2013

9:00 a.m.

As we all know, the Isle Dauphine Clubhouse has been leased and a new “Southern Lights” Restaurant is due to open for business by the end of April.  As the owner of the property, the DIPOA is responsible to maintain the grounds.  We will be starting a regular maintenance program for the summer months, but we need to do a “Spring Cleanup” (raking, cutting, trimming) prior to starting up that maintenance program. 

Since this is a costly item, we are going to do it ourselves…..the DIPOA Board is going to set the example (6 out of the 9 directors will there on Saturday) and take part in the cleanup, but we need your help.

Everyone that loves the Isle Dauphine property and would like to see it “come to life” again needs to do their part.  The more people we have the less time it will take for any of us. 

Please email either Robin Linn (robin@acpinfo.com) or Virginia Bratt (vbratt44@yahoo.com) and let us know that you will be available to help on Saturday.  Bring your rake, trimmers, etc.    THANK YOU!

Mobile Area Residential Sales Up 33.8% in February

By Alabama Center for Real Estate (ACRE)al.com
on March 22, 2013 at 7:15 AM

Mobile Area residential sales reached 281 units in February, an improvement in sales growth of 33.9 percent from last February. Year-to-date, residential sales through February are up a healthy 13.1 percent.

Click here to view or print the full report compliments of SIPS Team USA.

Supply: The Mobile Area housing inventory in February was 2,815 units, an increase of 2.8 percent from February 2012 and 18.6 percent from the month of February's inventory peak in 2010 (3,457 units).

There was 10.0 months of housing supply (6-7 months represents balanced market) in February 2013 versus 13.0 months of supply in February 2012, a solid and significant decrease of 23.2 percent.

February inventory in the Mobile Area increased by 2.6 percent from the prior month. Historical data indicates that February inventory on average (’08-’12) traditionally increases from the month of January by .1 percent. As consumer confidence continues to strengthen and the market heads into the prime selling season, more listings for sale should be anticipated.

Demand: There were 71 more housing units totaling $8,282,718 in volume closed in February than in January. Restated, residential sales improved by 18.1 percent from the prior month. Historical data indicates that February sales, on average (’08-’12), increase from the month of January by 15.0 percent.

Existing single family home sales accounted for 87 percent (down from 87% in Feb'12) of total sales while 12 percent (up from 11% in Feb'12) were new home sales and 1 percent (same as Feb'12) were condo buyers.

Pricing: The Mobile Area median selling price in February was $92,000, a decrease of 22.2 percent from last February ($118,250). The comparative sample size (# of closed transactions) of both months (Feb'13 & Feb'12) is the likely culprit of the double-digit decrease as opposed to actual prices. The average price decline was 11.3 percent and believed to be more representative of transactions on the street during February. To a much lesser degree, the February median price represents a decrease of 4.8 percent when compared to the prior month. Historical data ('08-'12) indicates that the February median selling price traditionally increases from the month of January by 10.2 percent.

Real estate sales are seasonal and the sales pace generally slows during the winter months resulting in a higher degree of statistical volatility. With that said, sixty-eight percent (16 of 25) of the local housing markets across the State have experienced year-to-date sales growth where compared to 2012 and that is welcome news for Alabama consumers as well our state's real estate community.All 5 major metro areas (including Mobile) representing 70% of Alabama sales have positive year-over-year growth rates.

As for the 2013 housing and economic outlook, Frank Nothalt, Freddie Mac vice president & chief economist shares, "Across the nation, most local housing markets have room for sustainable growth, particularly in home construction and sales. As the broader economy heals, expect to see more good news with home prices continuing their recent upward trend, and home sales and housing starts continuing to post strong growth rates."

This monthly report is provided compliments of SIPS Team USA.

See how Mobile compares to other Alabama real estate markets.

The Mobile Residential Monthly Report is work product developed in conjunction with the Mobile Area Association of REALTORS to better serve gulf coast consumers. The ACRE monthly report is provided to illustrate the "general" market direction & trends when comparing prior periods with the most current residential data available. Real estate is local and statistics will fluctuate between areas within a city including subdivisions, and ACRE recommends that you consult a local real estate professional for "specific" advice associated with your market.

About ACRE. ACRE was founded in 1996 by the Alabama Real Estate Commission, the Alabama Association of REALTORS and the Office of the Dean, UA Culverhouse College of Commerce. ACRE is not a state-funded entity, rather its operates in part because of the goodwill & generosity of our statewide ACRE Partners.

For other Alabama real estate resources & news, please visit our website and our ACRE blog. You can also follow ACRE from our facebook page and on twitter @uaacre.

© al.com. All rights reserved.

The below article was published by The Journal of Accountancy and explains the 3.8% real estate tax in a nutshell!

BP oil spill settlement could shortchange Gulf Coast states

Published: Monday, October 01, 2012, 5:59 AM Updated: Monday, October 01, 2012, 10:31 AM

By George TalbotPress-Register

(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)In this aerial photo taken in the Gulf of Mexico, an oil slick is seen as the Deepwater Horizon oil rig burns Wednesday, April 21, 2010. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

As it works to settle civil and criminal charges from the 2010 Gulf oil spill, the U.S. Department of Justice has proposed a deal that would appear to satisfy both the federal government and BP Plc.

That deal, according to officials briefed by the Justice Department, would be structured to give the federal government more control over the billions of dollars in fines paid by BP as a result of the spill, shifting that authority away from the affected states.

The settlement, one of several alternatives proposed by the government in recent weeks, would divert a greater portion of the fines toward a Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA), reducing the amount paid in civil penalties for violating the Clean Water Act.

NRDA fines flow through the U.S. Treasury and have relatively strict guidelines requiring them to be spent on restoration of wildlife and habitats. They’re also tax deductible – a major incentive for BP.

Clean Water fines, by comparison, are not deductible and would flow primarily to the five Gulf Coast states through the Restore Act, a bipartisan bill that was signed by President Barack Obama on July 6.

The law gives communities harmed by the spill greater flexibility in determining how to use the recovery money, with eligible uses ranging from expansion of oyster beds and fish hatcheries to construction of roads, bridges and convention centers.

Louisiana a potential winner

With states already making plans for how to spend their share of the money, the proposed settlement would dramatically alter the distribution of funds along the Gulf Coast.

Louisiana, which took the brunt of environmental damage from the spill, potentially could reap hundreds of millions of additional dollars through NRDA. Florida, with its vast coastlines, would also be likely to see an increase in its share of the fines.

Both states would see more money coming from a Democratic president than from their Republican governors, possibly swaying some votes in an election year.

The biggest losers? Alabama, Mississippi and Texas, where economic harms would not be reimbursed by NRDA funds.

“A higher proportion of fines settled under the Clean Water Act clearly carries the greater benefit for affected communities along the Alabama Gulf Coast,” said U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Tuscaloosa. “A settlement weighted toward NRDA would significantly shortchange Mobile and Baldwin counties. There is no question about it.”

Both the Justice Department and BP have consistently declined to comment on any discussions about a potential settlement. A BP spokesman repeated that position when contacted on Sunday, and the Justice Department declined to comment today.

The proposed settlement was revealed by the Justice Department in communication with the states during the week of Sept. 17, according to state and federal officials interviewed by the Press-Register. Several said they learned about the proposal following a Sept. 20 meeting at the Justice Department in Washington, D.C.

The officials declined to be identified because of the confidential nature of the negotiations with BP and because they were not authorized to speak for the government.

Alabama opposition

Elected officials in Alabama voiced strong opposition to the proposed deal, saying it would make an end run around the Restore Act.

“The idea that the Justice Department would attempt this, less than three months after the law was passed, is absolutely unacceptable,” said U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Mobile. “It’s an arrogant slap to the people of the Gulf Coast and the members of Congress who passed Restore.”

A spokeswoman for Gov. Robert Bentley said the governor “will oppose any effort by the federal government or by BP to undermine the principle of local control by artificially reducing the amount of money that flows through the Restore Act.”

Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange said that, regardless of a deal, the state would continue to fight until it received fair compensation for its losses.

Separate from the settlement negotiations, Alabama and Louisiana sued BP in federal court with a trial scheduled to begin Jan. 14 in New Orleans. Strange said the lawsuit gives Alabama tremendous leverage against BP.

“We’re ready to go to trial. They don’t want to see us in court,” Strange said. “Our motivation is simple: We want the biggest possible judgment or a settlement that makes Alabama whole. We won’t accept anything less.”

Power politics

Politics may also loom large in the ongoing negotiations between the government and BP.

A settlement would represent a coup for the Obama administration just weeks ahead of the Nov. 6 election. BP also has incentive to hammer out a deal and avoid a long, expensive court battle. A ruling of gross negligence could cost the company in excess of $30 billion, according to legal experts. The uncertainty surrounding the case has depressed BP's stock price and stymied a massive campaign to restore its corporate brand.

The negotiations are high-stakes, befitting the biggest environmental catastrophe in U.S. history. The Times of London reported Sunday that talks between BP and the Justice Department had stalled over the government’s insistence that the company pay at least $18 billion.

The British newspaper, citing unnamed company sources, said a settlement deal may not happen until early next year. Reports in July suggested the U.S. was looking for a settlement of $25 billion. The newspaper said that BP’s board was split over whether to pay $18 billion or continue to push for a lower fine in the range of $15 billion.

© 2012 al.com. All rights reserved.

Town hall will be open to issue permits and re-entry cards only.

Friday September 7, 2012 from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm

Saturday September 8, 2012 from 8:00 am – 12:00 pm

Isaac Recovery Update - September 6, 2012

We continue to make great progress on the west end of the island. Public Works crews have cleared most roads and will be focusing on private driveways (that portion on the rights-of-way only) in the coming days. Property owners are responsible for all clean up/recovery measures on their own property. Property owners/contractors are required to get a no-cost "sand permit" at Town Hall PRIOR to moving any sand. NOTE: It is illegal to remove sand from Town rights-of-way! However, you are allowed to move sand "within" the rights-of-way (with permit) in order to gain access to your property. The Town intends to return all sand within rights-of-ways to the south shoreline at the appropriate time.

As of now, electricity and water & sewer services have been restored to all houses that are capable of receiving those services. The "boil water" order has been lifted by DI Water & Sewer officials. Other services such as Cable TV and telephone are also progressing nicely. The checkpoint on Bienville Boulevard at Raphael Semmes Street will remain in place to reduce unnecessary traffic that could hamper clean up crews and create safety issues. Property owners, renters, contractors, utility companies and others are allowed access with proper ID and/or re-entry passes.

The Town will provide FREE dumpsters at the Public Works Department (next to the Fire Dept.) for eligible hurricane debris for a limited time. This includes vegetative debris (limbs, leaves, etc.), wood and other such debris generated by the storm. Household garbage is strictly prohibited along with hazardous materials such as batteries, tires, paints, etc. The dumpsters will be open Monday-Saturday 730AM-3PM. Public Works personnel will be on hand to monitor activities for proper compliance and to answer any questions.

The Billy Goat Hole boat ramp finger piers on the east end were also damaged due to high tides and surf. The Town is moving forward to have those facilities repaired soon. In the meantime, we suggest you use the ramps at Little Billy Goat Hole across from the Sea Lab.

Please contact Town Hall at (251) 861-5525 if you need any additional information. Please feel free to forward to all interested parties as Town email service is currently down. Thanks!

Jeff Collier

Mayor

Isaac Recovery Update - September 5, 2012

We continue to make great progress on the west end of the island. Public Works crews have cleared most roads and will be focusing on private driveways (that portion on the rights-of-way only) in the coming days. Property owners are responsible for all clean up/recovery measures on their own property. Property owners/contractors are required to get a no-cost "sand permit" at Town Hall PRIOR to moving any sand. NOTE: It is illegal to remove sand from Town rights-of-way! However, you are allowed to move sand "within" the rights-of-way (with permit) in order to gain access to your property. The Town intends to return all sand within rights-of-ways to the south shoreline at the appropriate time.

As of now, electricity and water & sewer services have been restored to all houses that are capable of receiving those services. The "boil water" order has been lifted by DI Water & Sewer officials. Other services such as Cable TV and telephone are also progressing nicely. The checkpoint on Bienville Boulevard at Raphael Semmes Street will remain in place to reduce unnecessary traffic that could hamper clean up crews and create safety issues. Property owners, renters, contractors, utility companies and others are allowed access with proper ID and/or re-entry passes.

The Town will provide FREE dumpsters at the Public Works Department (next to the Fire Dept.) for eligible hurricane debris for a limited time. This includes vegetative debris (limbs, leaves, etc.), wood and other such debris generated by the storm. Household garbage is strictly prohibited along with hazardous materials such as batteries, tires, paints, etc. The dumpsters will be open Monday-Saturday 730AM-3PM. Public Works personnel will be on hand to monitor activities for proper compliance and to answer any questions.

The Billy Goat Hole boat ramp finger piers on the east end were also damaged due to high tides and surf. The Town is moving forward to have those facilities repaired soon. In the meantime, we suggest you use the ramps at Little Billy Goat Hole across from the Sea Lab.

Please contact Town Hall at (251) 861-5525 if you need any additional information. Please feel free to forward to all interested parties as Town email service is currently down. Thanks!

Jeff Collier
Mayor

Dauphin Island Park & Beach Board

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Dauphin Island, AL – August 31, 2012 – The Dauphin Island Park & Beach Board would like to thank all of the first responders and their efforts to effectively restore public access back to Dauphin Island. With that said the Park & Beach Board is pleased to announce that most sites will be open come Saturday, September 1, 2012. Sites that will be open included Public Beach, Dauphin Island Campground, Historic Fort Gaines, Cadillac Square, Aloe Bay Park, Bayou Heron Park, Magnolia Park, Audubon Bird Sanctuary and East End Boat Launch. However, the East End Fishing Pier and the East End Beach will remain closed due to high storm surge and debris. The Park & Beach Board would like to notify guest that parts of Historic Fort Gaines are still flooded but please pardon our progress. Please come down and enjoy your Labor Day Weekend and be safe.

THE TOWN OF DAUPHIN ISLAND HAS RECEIVED CONFIRMATION FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE THAT THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION WILL BE HELD SEPTEMBER 11, 2012 FROM 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM AT THE DAUPHIN ISLAND BAPTIST CHURCH RESORT MINISTRY BUILDING LOCATED 909 DESOTO AVE.

ABSENTEE BALLOTS STILL AVAILABLE AT TOWN HALL.

ACP has been informed that utility services for Dauphin Island will be turned off sometime today, August 27, 2012.  The services include telephone, internet, power and water.  Due to this occurance, ACP asks that anyone who needs to contact us for an emergency will need to call Amy Vice on her cell phone at 251-533-2411.  We anticipate cell phone service will become sporadic as the weather conditions deteriorate, so please leave a message if you are unable to connect.  Amy will return the call as soon as possible.

Thank you in advance!!

Town Hall was notified by Centurylink

that telephone service for both the

EAST END and WEST END of the island

will be turned off today.

They did not have a specific time for that to occur.

From Town Hall...

Town Hall will be open on Friday August 24, 2012 from 8:00 am – 12:00pm to issue Hurricane re-entry passes.

Please help spread the word. Thanks

Lynn Parramore

AlterNet Editor; Co-founder, Recessionwire; Founding Editor of New Deal 2.0

If you're ready to shake off those work shackles and switch into relaxation gear, there are a few overlooked spots along the southern coasts awaiting your discovery. I grew up in North Carolina, and I've had a lifetime to search for getaways that meet my criteria of beauteousness and off-the-beaten-path allure.

We're going to be passing by all things neon and tacky and heading off to the quiet, low-key, undiscovered places where, if I could magically snap my fingers, I would be folded into a hammock with a dog-eared novel and a red-eye (that's light beer and tomato juice for the uninitiated). Damn the high gas prices -- full steam ahead to some serious summer indulgence.

1. Pawley’s Island, South Carolina

Just a half-hour down the highway from the honky-tonk hedonism of Myrtle Beach is a quiet, laid-back paradise where seekers of tranquil beaches and cool summer winds have been coming for three centuries. You will find nary a high-rise hotel. What you will find is the Sea View Inn, a rustic, old-school delight of a summer retreat with the Atlantic Ocean as your front yard. This is anything but your typical hotel experience, and if fancy frills are your thing, the Sea View is not for you. Think of it as summer-camp-at-the-shore, where down-home low-country meals --think fresh biscuits, grits and scrumptious local catch -- are served three times a day, air conditioning is the ocean breeze, and the use of laptops and cell phones is restricted to certain out-of-view areas (the WiFi works just fine, if you must have it).

The day’s activities consist of sitting on the pearly sand beneath an umbrella, strolling past weather-cured historic homes, and watching the sun put on a show-stopping display each evening as it sinks beneath the horizon. There’s a communal vibe among guests which is inviting without being oppressive. (I have stayed at Sea View both solo and with a friend, and have always found my quiet time respected and my desire to chat up fellow guests indulged.)

If you can tear yourself away from the beach, nearby Brookgreen Garden features an extensive outdoor sculpture collection and wildlife enclosures where you can meet owls, herons, otters, and other local beasts. Bonus: the area is known for the Gullah or Geechee culture associated with descendants of former coastal slaves, complete with its own creole language and fascinating traditions and foodways. If you want to take a short roadtrip, head to Charleston, an open-air museum of a city that boasts some of the finest walks and best-preserved historic homes in the country. To sample some of America's top regional cuisine, stop at the Hominy Grill for addictive shrimp-and-grits and buttermilk pie, or the fancier Peninsula Grill for fine wine paired with mouth-watering local specialties (the chefs here can make black-eyed peas taste like ambrosia).

One thing that often surprises visitors to the area’s preserved plantations is that it’s not all about the Civil War. At Middleton Place, near Charleston, you can behold the stupefying wealth of the southern signers of the Declaration of Independence, including Arthur Middleton, who had his garden designed by the very man who designed the pleasure gardens at Versailles. 'Nuff said.

2. Manteo, North Carolina

The ancient seafaring village of Manteo, whose history dates back to Elizabethan times, encircles Shallowbag Bay on the eastern side of Roanoke Island in North Carolina's Outer Banks. I used to come here as a kid to watch The Lost Colony, the oldest continuously running outdoor drama in the country—written by a New Deal playwright and performed in a New Deal theater (thanks, FDR!). The play chronicles the mysterious English settlement that disappeared from Roanoke Island in the late 16th century. Manteo loves its rich history, which you can see reenacted at Roanoke Island Festival Park on the Elizabeth II, a replica of a 16th-century ship sailed by Sir Walter Raleigh to the New World. Costumed actors actually speak in Elizabethan English.

Among its many attractions, Manteo has a fantastic independent bookstore, Manteo Booksellers, where you can pick up your vacation read. If you want to explore the waterways, Carolina Outdoors/Kitty Hawk Kites will hook you up with a kayaking adventure in the bay, or for the more adventurous, an excursion on the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, where you may spy the eponymous reptiles sunning themselves on the bank. You can also set up a hang-gliding experience at nearby Jockey’s Ridge State Park. I've done it, and while you won't go far your first time up, just getting airborne without a motor is a thrill. A short jaunt over the causeway will take you to eye-popping beaches stretching along 72 miles of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

There are several charming bed-and-breakfasts in Manteo, including the beautifully appointed White Doe Inn and the Tranquil House Inn.

3. Dauphin Island, Alabama

I toured the Gulf Coast extensively in 2010, and found myself astonished at the beauty of the beaches and the quaint attraction of some of the villages, all of which are supremely affordable. People were still reeling from the aftermath of the oil spill, but the drop in tourism was driven in many cases by unfounded fears that the beaches were spoiled. (There have been some tar balls and other signs of of the spill, but far fewer than you'd expect and the effort at clean-up has been massive.) The glorious stretches of pristine white sand and wonderful nature preserves I visited testified to the natural resilience of an area that has plenty drop-dead gorgeousness to offer the visitor. One of my favorite spots was Dauphin Island, a barrier island three miles south of Mobile Bay, where the vibe is chill and the beaches have that luxurious squeak-beneath-your-toes feel that only comes from super-fine sand.

On Dauphin, you’ll want to tour Bellingrath Gardens and Home, a year-round 65-acre garden estate where you can stroll along paths laced, depending on the season, with azaleas, Easter lilies, hydrangeas, and all manner of luscious flora. Birders will wish to flock to the Dauphin Island Audubon Bird Sanctuary, where a 1,000-foot boardwalk leads from the parking lot to a wharf overlooking Galliard Lake with a stunning view of 164 acres of beautiful woodlands. Miles of walking trails guide you through through pines, live oaks, magnolias, swamp and gulf beach. Egrets and herons hang out in the marshes and trees and you might even spot an occasional alligator taking an afternoon sunbath on the bank. History buffs can get a fantastic fix at Fort Gaines—famous for the Civil War’s Battle of Mobile Bay and Admiral Farragut’s unforgettable command, “Damn the torpedoes -- full speed ahead!”

Many beaches on the Gulf Coast are known for raucous partying, but Dauphin Island is a place for folks who just want to sit and watch the waves roll in. Houses available for rent are as luxurious or as basic as you want. There aren't many restaurants, but you can get great picnic fare from the Lighthouse Bakery, as well as Sunday omelets.

4. Beaufort, North Carolina

The little seaport village of Beaufort is often overlooked by folks heading to nearby Emerald Isle, where the beaches are admittedly lovely, but the T-shirt-shop tawdriness tends to spoil the ambiance. Beaufort is a favorite port of call, however, for sailors on the Intracoastal Waterway (Walter Conkrite used to like to stop in, and wrote about the pleasures of Beaufort his 1983 book Around America: A Tour of Our Magnificent Coastline). Folks in the know love Beaufort for its narrow, leafy streets, where 100 houses are more than a century old. (During the third week in June, residents throw open their wisteria-draped doors for the Beaufort Homes and Garden Tour.) They also love it for the Beaufort Grocery Co., where first-rate southern cuisine -- a far cry from the "whatever-it-is-fry-it" regime of many southern beach eateries -- is served to hungry locals and visitors. And they love it for the wild ponies, descendants of the mustangs brought over on Spanish galleons, who roam the dunes of Shackleford Banks, just a quick pedestrian ferry ride away.

I love Beaufort for its human scale and decidedly unglitzy charm. If strolling the boardwalk with an ice cream cone or popping into an antique store are the sorts of things that suit you on vacation, this is your spot. Be sure to check out the "warped weavers" (no, they're not insane) who show off their antique looms in the Safrit Historical Center and don't miss the ghostly Old Burying Ground on Ann Street, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You can even hop aboard a red English double-decker bus to tour the historic district. There are several excellent inns to choose from in Beaufort, including the Ann Street Inn and the Inlet Inn.

*Cross-posted from AlterNet.

Dauphin Island permanent mean high tide line topic of Aug. 25 property owner's meeting

Published: Monday, August 13, 2012, 11:03 AM Updated: Monday, August 13, 2012, 11:26 AM

By Casandra Andrews, Press-RegisterPress-Register

(Press-Register/John David Mercer)Beach grasses along the beaches of the Audubon Bird Sanctuary Monday May 3, 2010 on Dauphin Island, Ala.

MOBILE, Alabama -- The Dauphin Island Property Owners' Association will offer presentations dealing with recent East end beach restoration plans and the permanent mean high tide line during a rescheduled meeting at 10 a.m. Aug. 25, organizers said.

Gordon Thomson, of Coastal Planning and Engineering, Inc., will make a presentation about the scope of the town's recently approved $5 million East End grant.

Specifically, organizers said, Thomson is expected to address the potential to incorporate engineering structures within a beach nourishment project to assist in retaining sand on site longer given the effects of littoral drift that transports sand to the west along our portion of the Gulf Coast.

Some Dauphin Island Property Owners have asked to use a portion of the $1.3 million of Corps Settlement funds to augment the amount of sand the CIAP project will place on the East End, according to an email sent to members by Board president Jack Gaines II.

The information will be considered by the POA Board to reach a decision on the matter, he wrote in the email.

If the board decides it is in the best interest of the POA and the island to contribute funds to the east end project, an agreement will be required with the Town for the partnership, Gaines wrote.

In a separate presentation, Mayor Jeff Collier is expected to discuss the Town's plans to designate a permanent mean high tide line (sometimes referred to as a mean high water line) on Dauphin Island. His discussion will address the purpose, timing, method, shorelines involved, implications of the designation and the relationship of the MHW line to shoreline restoration projects.

The August DIPOA meeting has been rescheduled to Saturday, Aug. 25 at 10 a.m.

The gathering will be held in the third floor Wheel Room of the Isle Dauphine Club House. All property owners are welcome, organizers said.

© 2012 al.com. All rights reserved.

Patience pays off as Dauphin Island gets grant (editorial)

Published: Thursday, July 26, 2012, 5:11 AM

By Press-Register Editorial BoardPress-Register

al.com

MANY ATTRACTIONS that coastal residents hold dear on Dauphin Island — historic Fort Gaines, the birding areas and the Dauphin Island Sea Lab — can be better protected now that the town will receive $5 million to restore the island’s East End.

This is splendid news. There are still permits to be acquired and other steps to be taken before the restoration can begin, but the effort to win a grant has finally paid off. Mayor Jeff Collier, the Town Council and others deserve credit for persisting in their four-year endeavor to secure the necessary funding.

The money will come from the Coastal Impact Assistance Program and will be used for shoreline protection and restoration.

Dredging, storms and a rise in sea level have worn away the island’s East End shoreline and have already claimed a portion of Fort Gaines’ historic battlefield. The state can’t afford to lose any more of that hallowed ground, especially at a rate of nine feet per year.

Beach renourishment, as it is called, has been effective in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach in Baldwin County. Coastal engineers have pressed officials to give it serious consideration on Dauphin Island, but until now the money just wasn’t there.

The BP oil spill in 2010 helped draw attention to the narrow barrier island and the need to protect it from erosion and other destructive forces. And, too, the stronger the island becomes, the more effective it can be as a buffer for the mainland during hurricanes and other storms.

Then there’s Dauphin Island’s unspoiled nature to consider. In sharp contrast to the busier beaches of Baldwin County, the island is a unique mixture — part fishing village, part history museum and part science lab. Several of the sites that make up this unique blend lie on the island’s East End, including birding habitats that draw visitors from across the nation.

Mayor Collier estimates that the work will be completed in about a year. It’s comforting to know that Dauphin Island’s East End will finally get the attention it deserves and will soon have several new miles of beach and shoreline for everyone to enjoy.

© 2012 al.com. All rights reserved.